What's a good houseplant to get?

[psych]

What does "water till run-off" mean?

water until water starts to leak out the drainage holes, and then water a bit more. (discard the drained water)

If you were to do the complete opposite and only ever do little 'top-up' waterings every so often, then every impurity in the water that wasnt taken up by the plant would stay in the soil, eventually building up to toxic levels.

[Blaidd59]

Before deciding on what house plant to buy, you need to think where it will be located and how much time you can dedicate to its care.

Asparagus ferns and Dracaena are reasonably easy to care for but do not like to be moved about so a settle position in semi shade they will however require misting to keep them at their best great for bathrooms and kitchens.

Hymenocallis the spider lily give a nice alternative to house plants and as they are not a common one will give you something slightly more unusual but they do have a dormant stage.

Polypodium or other ferns for north or east facing windows

[polar]

I like aspidistra plants, also known as cast iron plants due to their reputation for withstanding neglect!

[MadduckUK]

Ivy, the GF kills everything but Ivy.

[melon]

Ivy, the GF kills everything but Ivy.

No wonder your an atheist.

m

[psych]

I like aspidistra plants, also known as cast iron plants due to their reputation for withstanding neglect!

their achilles heel seems to be spider mites.

fortunately the plants 'easy care' shape means you can wipe the mites off in a minute with a damp cloth, you just have to remember to look under the leaves every few weeks or so.

[Blaidd59]

Pothos, grape ivy or philodendrons are also good plants if you like foliage plants.

For a bit of colour there are plants like crotons that are still foliage but with more colour.

Floral features hibiscus, flowering maples, anthurium, streptocarpus ( cape primrose) Brazilian Fireworks( a less common one for you but easy to care for but can get to 30 cm tall and 60 cm wide)

[roorooroo]

I've always had lots of luck with African Violets.

[mepooooo]

Look at some plants site. There you can find big list of plants and information about them and some pictures. It is better than asking people which don't know your flat and your taste. We can recomend you a lot of plants but it is not guarantied that you will like them. Good luck.

[Geoff I]

We keep getting house plants and we keep losing them, not very good green fingers.

[kalniel]

We keep getting house plants and we keep losing them, not very good green fingers.

Or you have a very big house..

[Top_gun]

Aloe Vera would be a good choice. Low maintenance and you could use its healing properties by harvesting the leaf.

[kalniel]

Aloe Vera would be a good choice. Low maintenance and you could use its healing properties by harvesting the leaf.

Sounds like something from a computer game. Can you explain what those properties are and how?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Triffid.

[Top_gun]

Sounds like something from a computer game. Can you explain what those properties are and how?

It's good for healing burns and cuts to the skin amongst other things.

As for something from a computer game, perhaps your spending too much time gaming rather than broadening your horizons! Aloe Vera have found its way to skincare products in this country twenty years ago.

[kalniel]

It's good for healing burns and cuts to the skin amongst other things.

Intriguing. How do you harvest/apply it?

Aloe Vera have found its way to skincare products in this country twenty years ago.

So has just about every fruit, vegetable and herb on the planet - there's no limit to the imagination of marketing